Chapter 28

TW: mentions of suicide, nothing graphic, but it might be triggering for some.

"Anya!" Clarke shouted as she moved closer to the woman.

She was surprised to see her, but then again she wasn't. She was also surprised when Anya didn't stop her from hugging her. She knew that the gesture would make her look weak in front of her warriors, but Clarke didn't care. She was glad that Anya was there to greet them and welcome them back to Earth. She did however make the embrace quick and backed away. She then raised her arm and shook forearms with Anya in the typical Grounder fashion.

"How are you?"

"I am good, Skaiprisa," Anya answered. "I see that you are moving faster this time."

"I didn't see the point in waiting. We have better supplies, too. I haven't catalogued everything, but I think that I could already start turning ripas back into men. But, we shouldn't be worried about that at the moment. We should be worrying about us and how we are going to move and integrate into Trikru, yes?"

"Lexa knew that you wouldn't wait."

"Is she here?"

"No, she isn't. She is in Floukru working with Luna on some things. She will be here soon. I've already sent word of you arrival with Tris."

"Oh," Clarke replied a little dejected.

"No worries, Skaiprisa. She's been waiting for you. Reivon and Abi helped us, but Eko and Okteivia told us plenty of stories before they left."

"They did?" Clarke asked as she turned to look over at Octavia. "Where did they go?"

"They followed you after completing their mission at Beka's."

"My mission?" Clarke inquired and then thought about it harder. "The natjus? Why wouldn't they go after the Mountain? Didn't they help you defeat it?"

"They did. Your plan worked. Reivon, Okteivia and Eko took it out. They used the tek to find more bunkers. Okteivia and Eko told Reivon to find them, check them and memorize where they were. She gave us more to take down Nia and we did. After that, Eko and Okteivia left Arkkru to Abi and Skaikru to Reivon. We found them near where the drop ship landed. Eko helped her commit ritual suicide."

"Why didn't you stop her?" Clarke asked as she started searching around the camp for Octavia.

"We tried. They tried at Beka's bunker, first. Lexa convinced them to continue to the mission, to help us gather more intel so that we would be ready the next time. She asked that they tell her everything that they could. They even taught Lexa a new language. She called it Rushin."

"Did it sound like this?"

"Da, it did."

"Lexa taught you?"

"As soon as we were both 'woke,' as Reivon had called it. Sha, she did. She said it would help if we had a language that only the leaders could speak."

Clarke nodded. It was a smart move. And, Clarke understood that Lexa could use it to help her be more covert even in public.

"Who else knows it?"

"Luna, Indra, and Gaia," Anya answered.

"Is Gaia the Flamekeeper?" Clarke asked switching back to Gonasleng.

"She is. Lexa sent Titus to Nia to bring Ontari into the fold. He failed and his head was sent back instead. Nia was then punished for her crimes and Ontari was given a choice. She did not choose wisely, Skaiprisa."

"Who rules Azgeda?"

"Roan with his wife, the new Haiplana kom Azkru," Anya stated.

"Wife?"

"Sha, you might have heard of her," Anya told her.

"Who is it?"

"Costia," Anya replied.

Clarke sucked in a breath. That was a name that she wasn't expecting to hear. Costia's death led to Lexa's depression and her obsession with the coalition. If Costia didn't die, then how wasn't she with Lexa? Costia was her first love. Her death with the catalyst that lead to the coalition. If Costia wasn't dead, then how did Lexa get them all to bend the knee to her?

"Roan swore fealty to her at Costia's behest. With Azgeda allying with Trikru, the rest of the clans fell in line quickly. Recognizing that Heda was indeed supreme, they found the council of ambassadors. Luna is her sekkon."

"Her sekkon?"

"Sha, her sekkon. Luna and Lexa have maintained peace and trade routes now for three years between the krus. We've been waiting for you."

"Do the ambassadors know?"

"Of the Skaiprisa who will end Maun-de and then lead us to survival? Not so much, but Lexa has told them that a prisa from the stars would come and show them into a new age of Man. She's used Gaia and her possession of the Flame to push the issue. She's convinced them that the Prisa kom Skaifaya would help us and that she should be welcomed when she comes back."

"Comes back?"

"Yes, like Bekka came from the stars. The Prisa kom Skaifaya would bring her healing and wrath. She would help us like Bekka had so many years ago. First, the Mountain would fall. Then, all the clans would become one. And, finally, the Earth would burn from failing tek. It is only with the help of the Prisa and her people that we will survive."

"She shouldn't have said that," Clarke stated.

"Is it not the truth, Clarke of the Stars?"

"I will do what I can, but I cannot guarantee everyone's survival."

"The krus know this. Their leaders are selecting people from each kru, especially the children for the bunkers. It was one thing that Raven said you would demand. Children would get priority," Anya answered.

"And, they should. They are the future. But, we will need farmers, horsemen, warriors. Without them, we will all die," Clarke added.

"They are being tested, too."

"How?"

"Farmers that have been selected have to change krus. Trikru to Azgeda, Azgeda to Sangeda, and so forth. This way they know how to farm in many environments. Hunters and warriors have been sent to different krus to train as well. She is trying to make your Wonkru a reality."

Clarke nodded. Lexa was already ahead of the curve. She was planning for their future based on what little knowledge she had from those lives that Octavia, Echo (Ash), Abby and she'd lived. The rest she was basing off of her own experience.

"Is she moving us to Belle?"

"No, Tondisi. She wants you closer. Octavia will immediately be given to Indra. Monroe, Harper, and Miller will be given to fos, too. Belomi will be given to Eko and sent Azgeda as the Skaikru ambassador. Other clans will want one as well, but Lexa knew that you wouldn't oppose that match."

"No, no, I won't. And, maybe she'll keep him out of trouble," Clarke replied. "When should we leave?"

"As soon as you ready, Skaiprisa? Lexa sent me with wagons, horses, and warriors to help you. We need to go by way of Belle so the Maumon doesn't know that you survived. We have some fresh dead in varying ages to burn near the dropship."

This information took Clarke by surprise. She knew that Lexa was prepared, but this was over the top even for her. Hiding from the Mountain was imperative, she knew that. But, to take it to these lengths seemed extreme, even to Clarke.

"When did you wake, Anya?"

"Just before Lexa won the conclave," Anya answered.

"And, Lexa?"

"After her ascension but before she could court Costia fully. Costia knew that Lexa was her friend and they were close, but something kept Lexa from completely falling for her this time. When Roan came and warned them of Nia's plots, thanks to Eko's warnings, Costia spent more time with Roan than Lexa. They wed after Nia's death. If the rumors are true, Costia should be delivering Roan's child soon," Anya told her.

"And, Echo?"

"Is a personal guard for Lexa," Anya said.

"So did not see that happening," Clarke mumbled.

"When did you 'wake' as you say this time?"

"I was still in the prison. I started training, but I know that it wasn't enough. Raven and Mom must have already been 'woke' though."

"They helped you?"

"They did."

"Good," Anya stated. "You don't look so puny this time, Prisa. It is no matter, though."

"Why is that?"

"Lexa and I are going to train you to fight," Anya told her.

Clarke laughed. She couldn't believe that Anya thought that she was going to train to be a warrior. The idea was preposterous, but she'd let the try.

"Why do you laugh, Prisa? You all march like goufa and will call down the pauna on us. All of you will be trained to be Trikru. You must learn to defend yourselves. Even those who aren't warriors learn to defend themselves and their villages. This is nothing to laugh at it. This is important."

Clarke just nodded. She'd just gotten a lot of information at once, again. It seems like she was the last to wake. She didn't know why she was the last, but she was. But, through it all, she knew that she had to talk to Octavia. Raven would be fine, because she'd only been through one life. Octavia and Echo would be the key. Hopefully, they found something after death that helped them before they ended their lives. She looked around the camp, again, before turning back to Anya. She knew they needed the help and they needed to move ASAP.

"Where are these carts?" Clarke asked her.

"I needed to make sure that you weren't going to attack us. I will go get them. Will you be ready to go today?"

"Probably not, but I'll have to ask Raven. She'll want to salvage as much of the pod as she can. I know that we can come back after we defeat the mountain, but there are certain things that she'll want to take now."

"Work on those. Make sure that you get water. The trip isn't too long, two days at most at a good speed, but with your goufa," Anya hinted at her displeasure.

"We'll move. Don't worry about us. I'll do that. You just get the carts here. We'll be ready."

"Sha, as you order, Skaiprisa," Anya told her, salute and then disappeared back into the woods.

Clarke stood there staring still after Anya's vanishing form, when Raven and Octavia came up to her. The fire was lit and the snares had produced some rabbits. They were coming to tell her that Murphy was already cooking something for them for dinner. They stopped beside her and wanted to talk to her, but they could see that she was focused on the woods.

"Do you see someone?" Octavia asked her.

"No, I don't."

"Then why are staring at the woods, Clarkey?" Raven questioned.

"I need you to answer a question and I want you to both be honest with me," Clarke told them.

"Okay?"

"When did you remember this time?" Clarke questioned as she turned and stared deeply into Octavia's eyes.

"I was barely fifteen, I think. I woke up under the floor and remembered. It took me two months to convince Mom that I wasn't crazy."

"How did you do that?"

"Raven and Abby showed up at the door," Octavia answered.

Clarke was trying to do the math in her head. If Octavia was fifteen, then she would have been sixteen. So, it wasn't long after her father was floated.

"And, you, Raven?"

"Around the same time," Raven answered.

"And, who did you go to first?" Clarke inquried.

"Abby of course," Raven replied.

"Was she already awake, too?"

"Yeah," Raven stated. "Why?"

"How long after Dad was floated?" Clarke pushed.

"Not long, I don't believe. When we went to see Bellamy and Aurora, Octavia already knew. We could tell that she'd remembered long before we got there," Raven stated.

"And, Mom made Kane claim you?"

"She did," Octavia replied.

"So are you a Blake or a Kane?"

"I'm Octavia Kane Blake. I will always be a Blake, Clarke. Just because he helped make me still doesn't make him my father," Octavia replied.

"He didn't try to parent you?"

"How? I was already in the Skybox when Abby forced his hand, but they managed to keep it quiet about Bellamy and Wells. I don't know that they were protecting Jaha or Mom more. Either way, it didn't matter. By Kane claiming me, he was able to protect Mom a little bit. She was still seen as being in the wrong, but he was going to pardon me on my birthday. He actually sent me to school while I was in the Skybox. When I was released, I knew that I had to do something to go back. So, I did. I had to make sure that I was on the dropship. As soon as I got put back in the Skybox, you're Mom started pushing for the Earth Mission," Octavia explained.

"Yeah, she did, but she changed the reason. She had me and Sinclair looking at the surface. We found out that it was survivable, but we knew that the Council wasn't going to take our science as gospel. They needed something more."

"And, that is where we came in?" Clarke asked.

"Yup," Raven answered. "Mama G convinced them to send us after some training. Aurora, Bellamy, and I volunteered to come down with you. Kane only approved for me to come when Abby said that she would wait for the Ark."

"So, it was either her or you?" Clarke questioned.

"Yeah," Raven stated. "Mama G can be very convincing when she needs to be. She also said that by sending us, she could help more people when she got to the ground. She may have said that you would pave the way for us with our help. You know have a Guard-to-be in Bellamy, an Engineering student in Wells, a medical prodigy in you, and a mechanical genius in me gave them hope that we would be able to at least get a settlement started. We would have some shelters ready for the rest of the Ark, so they wouldn't have to work so hard come winter."

"She didn't tell them about the Grounders? Or, Winter? Or, how hard life was here?"

"I don't know what she told them council, but she told them that we would be ready for them. We need to be ready for them. We need to meet the Ark when it falls. They've done some recalibrations and they've managed to save more people by moving them around and sending people with us. As we as tell them, they'll fire the missiles towards Mars and fire off the other drop ship, making sure it doesn't hurt the Ark. With that, Sinclair and I figured out where they need to break it for reentry. We know that Farm lands in Azgeda, but the way they've divided the people..."

"She's putting the most needed on Alpha," Clarke said. "I understand. That must have been hard for her to make those lists. Fortunately, all we have to really worry about losing is possibly Mecha, unless you found a way to help it not fall on a cliffside."

"Rockets. It is the only one with rockets. Sinclair stole a few from the warheads. They are set to fire just enough to change the trajectory by four degrees."

"Is that enough?" Clarke asked.

"Clarke, this is me and Sinclair. I am genesis and he's pretty smart, too. But, yes, it'll be enough as long as they hit the same window to come down in. Hitting that window is going to be critical. So, we've got like two weeks or so before they come," Raven quipped.

"Good. Salvage everything that you can, but get that radio up and running, now. We're moving as soon as Anya gets back with the supplies that Lexa's sent. They've been waiting on us for some time. It's time that we showed up and showed that we aren't just children."

"The Mountain getting the chopping block again?" Raven questioned. "Wait, Anya? Anya was already here?"

Clarke just looked at her. The look was pure steel. Clarke was plotting, but at the moment, Raven didn't know against who and she was slightly worried. She could tell that their blonde leader was angry, but she didn't know why. Had all the restarts finally broken her mind into just Wanheda? Raven wondered.

"Oh, yeah, but we're going to play with them a little bit. I want them to sweat. I want them to fear me enough that they will give me what I want, because in the end, they will get what they want. I'm willing to negotiate to a degree. So, let's see what Wallace we get," Clarke explained. "Raven, the radio."

"On it, Princess," the Latina replied as she ran back for the drop ship and started to work her mechanical magic.

"So, Anya's already made contact?" Octavia inquired as she moved to stand beside Clarke.

"She did."

"So, it worked then. Lexa remembers? You said that Lexa sent Anya and that they've been waiting. How long?"

"Too long," Clarke replied.

"Why do you say that?"

"They've known for at least since Lexa's ascension," Clarke answered.

"Six years?"

"Yeah, six years," Clarke replied.

"Do you know what all they've changed?"

"Titus is dead. Nia is dead. Ontari is dead," Clarke stated.

"Those are good things, right?"

"Yeah, they are," Clarke said. "Roan is king in Azgeda with his wife. And, you won't believe who is his wife?"

"Echo?"

"No, Echo is one of the personal guards to Lexa. It's Costia. As in Lexa's first love that Azgeda beheaded and sent to her in pieces. Lexa never fell for her and she spent time in Azgeda with Echo starting the coalition it seems. And, as an ambassador for Trikru to Azgeda. I don't think that Lexa ever planned on her falling in love with Roan, but she did. Anya stated that once they were married, the other clans started to fall into place not wanting to deal with the wrath of a joint Azgeda/Trikru Army. The coalition stands mostly on peace. Luna is somehow Lexa's second. Anya is still a general and high ranking member of Trikru. Oh, yeah, Gaia is the Fleimkepa."

"Well, that will make things easier for us all. With clans all being together for peace, Lexa must have found more bunkers for us to help populate during the death wave. So, the plan worked then. I would think that you would be more happy about this."

"I would if you had actually followed the plan to the letter," Clarke snapped.

"What are you talking about? I did. I gave them natjus. I taught some of them Russian so we could talk without anyone knowing what we were saying. I told them to look for the bunkers with Raven's help to see which ones we could outfit over the next year to save our collective asses this time."

"Yeah, you told them to do it. You left them. You and Echo came back to the dropship and committed ritualistic suicide instead of leading our people to become Wonkru and surviving. You left that to Raven, Mom and Lexa. Octavia, I needed you to be there for me," Clarke said forcefully.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't do it. I couldn't keep pretending that I knew better what to do. I needed you, but you were gone. I know that my death would trigger a restart. I..."

"You didn't tell me. Why didn't you tell me? You could have used something on the tablet so I knew before we landed. You could have told me when we landed. You could have just pulled me aside and told me what happened. But, you didn't. Anya did. So, now, we have no idea what we are facing."

"We've got Raven and your Mom."

"But, is that enough?" Clarke wondered.

"And, Murphy," Octavia added.

"You gave the blood to Murphy?"

"Yeah, but not Bellamy. Echo killed him when he tried to fight us about it in the lab. She didn't want that on my conscience, so she did it."

"Who else got it?"

"Luna, Anya, Lexa, Murphy, Raven, Gaia, and Indra."

"Murphy was the only male?"

"Yeah, well...yeah, he was the only one," Octavia stated.

"Gather everyone. It's time to introduce them to Skaiprisa. It's time to do more than survive."

"Sha, Skaiprisa, as you wish," Octavia saluted and walked over to start barking at the 100 milling around.

It's going to be a long few days, was all Clarke thought as she took a deep breath and prepared to tell them all, partially the truth.